Bring early voting, other reforms to New York (Editorial)
We don't think too much about the mechanics of voting until something goes wrong. That was the case on Election Day in New York City. The ballot was…
Editorial: The blame game is over. No more excuses for Democrats in Albany.
When Gov. Andrew Cuomo met with our Editorial Board before Election Day, he laid out what he called his “unfinished” agenda. He mentioned ethics reform, a measure to help…
Constituent Letter to State Senator Carlucci
November 7, 2018
Dear Senator Carlucci,
Congratulations on your win. A majority Democrat NY State Senate is beautiful to contemplate. With your years of experience, you are now positioned to be a Senate leader for Democratic values and legislation. We are behind you. We would like to meet with you in December or early January to discuss how you will support voting reform in NY.
We are proud to have delivered on two strong recommendations you gave during our many meetings over the past nearly 2 years:
Be loud in support of voting reform
Elect more Democrats.
Our voices were loud for voting reform in collecting signatures in your district on a petition for reforms, in writing letters to the editor and in participating in rallies, demonstrations and lobbying (lobbying especially in Albany with Let NY Vote). We give you credit for influencing the IDC to make its very strong statement on voting reform in its budget statement of January, 2018. Now we hope to see the Democratic majority implement those recommendations in NY. Let us know how our voices can help.
To help elect more Democrats, we attended rallies, organized campaign events, made financial contributions, registered voters, phone banked and canvassed, especially in (now) Senator Harckham's district. We're feeling good this morning!
We really appreciated your appearances in Ossining just before the election. At your Town Hall, though the main topic was school funding, the main emotion was frustration. Your constituents need to have more communication from you regarding your actions on the issues they are most concerned about--health care, education, voting reform, immigration, etc. Many of us have been frustrated that you do not communicate more evidence, short of final actions by the Senate, of the active support you give the issues. If you established a regular communication mechanism with groups of constituents about your actions on their issues, we would understand better the efforts you make and difficulties you face in fighting for our causes. Meetings that we request, general newsletters and forums are not enough. Please consider improving constituent relations in this way.
We look forward to working with you, bringing New York's voting procedures into the 21st century, and understanding better how you serve us.
Sincerely,
Catherine Ray, Ossining
Paul Dinter, Ossining
Lora Friedman, Ossining
Audrey Gelfand, Briarcliff Manor
Reena Agaware, Briarcliff Manor
Kathy Walters, Clarkstown
Gail Sasso, Croton, Organizer of CCoHOPE (Cortlandt/Croton-on-Hudson/Ossining/Peekskill) Indivisible
Editorial: All the power in New York
THE ISSUE: Democrats will have complete control of New York state government come January.
Expand and protect voting rights: Letter
Now that this divisive election is over, it's time for citizens in Poughkeepsie and the Hudson Valley to join other New Yorkers in a statewide effort to change the dynamic in Albany.
Capitol Watch: Lawmakers to review voting problems
In New York state political news, lawmakers plan to take a closer look at the problems reported on Election Day with an eye toward improving the voter experience.
Demanding Answers: How Can NYC’s Messy Voting System Be Fixed?
From long lines to broken voting machines, election day was a mess this week at the polls – but will anything change next time?
Opinion: Voting rights and wrongs: There's progress around the country, but not in progressive New York
In many ways, Tuesday was a glorious day for voting rights. Turnout reached historic highs around the country. Floridians restored the voting rights of nearly 1.5 million people. And Nevadans, Marylanders, and Michiganders made it vastly easier to register to vote. And then there was New York.
Opinion: Rethinking New York Elections
How is it that the voice of the people so often comes to be silenced? When we think of widespread voter disenfranchisement, we normally think of it as a problem relegated to…
Early voting key to fixing Election Day problems, lawmakers say
Early voting in New York City could have prevented the Election Day fiasco that left people waiting for hours to cast their ballots, according to lawmakers and experts.